Steaming apparatus with removable brush

ABSTRACT

A portable steamer for removing wrinkles from fabrics having a cylindrical tank for holding the water used in steaming is disclosed. A steam head is inserted in a steam outlet channel which is located above the cylindrical tank. A removable ring having a material-treating member, such as a brush, surrounds the periphery of the housing which encloses the steam head. The brush is held in place upon the housing of the steamer by two slightly resilient tabs which are integrally formed with the sides of the removable ring. Each of the tabs have an inwardly projecting locking block which is received in a corresponding locking recess in the exterior housing surface of the steam outlet channel portion of the housing.

I United States Patent 1 3,675,449

Bluestein 51 July 1 l, 1972 54] STEAMING APPARATUS WITH 3559,42? 2/197:Baker REMOVABLE BRUSH 3,620,055 ll/l97l Blachly et a1. 72] Inventor:Bernard B. Bluesteln, Des Plaines, lll. primary w A Scheel 73 A I S beamCurpunuo hi I", Assistant Examiner-Philip R. Coe 1 ssgnee an n C c380AnomeyGeorge R. Clark [22] Filed: July I2, 197! 21 Appl. No.: 161,741[57] A portable steamer for removing wrinkles from fabrics having [52] U3 CI 68,222 5/ l 76 a cylindrical tank for holding the water used insteaming is dis- 51] Deans/00 closed. A steam head is inserted in asteam outlet channel [58] Field e 5 240 38/69, which is located abovethe cylindrical tank. A removable ring 5 6 having a material-treatingmember, such as a brush, surrounds the periphery of the housing whichencloses die steam head. in I m The brush is held in place upon thehousing of the steamer by [56] Re cued two slightly resilient tabs whichare integrally formed with the n' STATES PATENTS sides of the removablering. Each of the tabs have an inwardly projecting locking block whichis received in a corresponding X re e the exterior surfacg of the steamoul. 2,849,736 9/1958 Kohle........v.. .H68/222 X 1 channd portion ofthehousing 2,920,334 l/l960 Keller ...l5/l76 X 3,000.202 9/l961Granados.....n............m......n...68/222 l0 Cllllm, 9 Ih'lwlngfigures PATENTEDJUL 1 1 1912 SHEET 10F 2 Jr II/ 3 h 4 2 n. M mm? 3 w W 02 T w f: 8 M 9 L H J m 1 v i i .w HM NMHW\V8HT w i H L h g 8 0 7 8 f: 6H m 5% w m w 7 l/ll STEAMING APPARATUS WITH REMOVABLE BRUSH BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION Portable, hand-held steamers are presently receiving increased consumer acceptance. Portable steamers are useful in removingwrinkles from hanging garments which are made of many types ofmaterials. However, for certain fabrics such as wool, velvet, corduroyetc., a steamer is suitable only if the fabric may be brushed duringapplication of steam. In order to provide a steamer which is suitablefor cottons, wash-andwear type of fabrics, and other similar materialsand which is at the same time useful for fabrics which require specialtreatment it is desirable to provide material-treating member, forexample a brush, which is easily removable from the steamer.

The removable brush must be securely locked onto the steaming devicewhen it is being used, and it must be capable of easy removal when useof the brush is not desired. The brush and its attachment featuresshould be of low cost, and attachment of the brush to the steamingdevice should be achieved with a minimum of modification of the steamingdevice. For this reason, the use of conventional protruding tongues onthe brush for insertion into corresponding grooves on the housing inwhich the tongues are received is not desirable. The present inventionprovides a portable steaming device with a removable material-treatingmember which is low in cost and which may be quickly and easily removedor placed on the steaming device according to the type of fabric beingtreated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of thesteaming device and the removable brush of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross section view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the heating element of the steamer.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the metallic steaming head and the surroundinghousing sections of the steamer.

FIG. 5 is a partial cut away perspective view of the removable brushshowing one of the resilient locking blocks.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the steam direction plate that is securedin the tank section.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the bottom section of the housing showing thethermostat and the fuse.

FIG. 8 is a partial cut away perspective view of the housing which showsa square locking recess which receives a corresponding square lockingblock on a tab of the removable brush.

FIG. 9 is a partial cut away view showing the heating element of thepresent invention.

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The portable steamer of thepresent invention is formed with a cylindrical plastic housing whichcomprises the water storage tank. The cylindrical tank comprises anupper and a lower housing section which are screwed together. The upperportion of the cylindrical tank opens into a steam outlet channel whichis inclined upwardly at a slight angle with respect to the longitudinalaxis of the cylindrical tank section. A metallic or plastic steam headhaving an aperture surface closes the steam outlet channel and providessteam ports for directing steam onto the garment.

The lower section contains the heating element and a metallic cup-likewater storage container. The heating element is positioned around thestorage cup in a close heat-transferring relationship. A thermostat anda fuse, which are wired in a series with the heating coil, are securedto an electrically insulating wafer that is itself secured to the bottomplate of the housing. The thermostat rests on the wafer just below thebottom of the metallic storage cup so that it is effected by the heatgenerated in the cup and prevents overheating when most of the water inthe tank has been consumed.

Sealing provisions are provided so that no water leaks into the portionof the lower section which houses the thermostat, the fuse and theheating coil. The sealing provisions also prevent leakage of waterbetween the upper and lower sections of the housing when they aresecured together.

The steam which is generated in the steamer passes upwardly from thestorage cup in the lower section of the tank through a number of steamdirecting channels which are formed downwardly directed pipes in a steamdirecting plate that is secured across the interior of cylindricalportion of the steamer. The steam then passes upwardly through a ventwhich is located adjacent the rear wall of the steam outlet channel. Thesteam is thus forced to sharply reverse its direction once as it passesupwardly from the tank and outwardly through the outlet channel to thesteam head. This provision allows for the passage of steam through theapertured surface of the steam head but it prevents the passage of waterthrough these apertures when the steaming device is held in a tiltedposition.

A removable plastic ring having a material-treating member, such as abrush, surrounds the steam head in contact with the housing of thesteamer. The ring of the brush has resilient tabs at the ends thereofeach of which has inwardly protruding locking blocks thereon. Thehousing of the steamer has two relatively flat side surfaces whichcontain locking recesses therein which receive the locking blocks on thetabs of the removable brush. The tabs are thinner in cross sectionalarea than is the remainder of the ring of the brush so that they aresomewhat more resilient. The tabs are integrally formed in the sides ofthe brush ring such that one end of the tab is joined to the ring, theother end is colinear with the inner edge of the ring and thelongitudinal sides of the tab are separated from the remaining portionof the ring by longitudinal slots.

The housing of the steamer slopes gradually from the cylindrical tankportion of the housing to the exterior housing periphery of the outletchannel which surrounds the steam head. The base of the removable brushis shaped so that it substantially conforms to the slope of the housing.

The steam head, the exterior housing periphery which surrounds the steamhead and the removable brush conform in shape to each other. The base ofthe brush is curved and is somewhat longer than the curved top of thebrush in order to conform to the generally trapezoidal-shaped steamhead. When the removable brush is inserted on the steamer the inner edgeof the curved base of the ring is in contact with the housing of thecylindrical tank portion of the steamer at a tangent point. Exposedsurfaces on the inner edge of the ring of the brush extend outwardlyfrom both sides of the tangent point. When pressure is applied to thesesurfaces the associated resilient tabs are flexed somewhat and theirlocking blocks are disengaged from their corresponding locking recessesthereby allowing the brush to be removed from the steamer without theuse of any tools.

The steaming device of the present invention, designated by thereference numeral 10, is shown in FIG. I. The steaming device consistsof two sections, an upper section 12 and a lower section 14. The twosections are screwed together by means of the screw threads 93 on thelower section 14 and the screw threads 94 on the upper section 12 toform a cylindricalshaped tank. The lower section 14 contains the heatingelement 34, the thermostat 30 and a water storage cup 28. The uppersection 12 contains a steam outlet channel 116 for the steam which isgenerated in the lower section I2. The outlet channel 116 provides apassageway which supplies the steam to the steam head 16. A handle 18 isintegrally formed with the upper section 12 and it extends downwardlyparallel to the longitudinal access of the cylindrical tank.

A removable material-treating member 20 consist of a ring 22 which maybe molded of plastic or other suitable material. The ring 22 has aperiphery that consist of two substantially straight sides 142. a curvedtop 23 and a curved base 25 which is somewhat longer than the curved top23. The ring 22 surrounds the steam head 16 in engagement with thehousing of the upper section 12. The ring 22 has an outer edge 27 towhich the bristle brushes 24 are secured. The bristle brushes 24 whichare preferably made of nylon, extend outwardly beyond the outer surface26 of the steam head 16. The housing sections 12 and 14 and the ring 22are preferably formed of plastic. Both the ring 22 and the housing maybe made of modified polyphenylene oxide or other suitable plastic.

The steam is generated in the steamer in the lower section 14. Themetallic water storage cup 28 formed of a lightweight heat conductivemetal is supported in the lower section 14 for receiving water. The cup28 is suspended over the thermostat 30 by its outward extending rim 92.Water poured into the cup 28 is turned into steam due to the heatgenerated by the heating coil 34 which surrounds the periphery of thecup 28. The heating element for the steamer consist of the heating coil34 which is formed of two thin strips of a metallic heat conductivematerial. The strips are secured together by folding the ends 36 and 38of the metallic strip 40 over the edges of the narrower metallic strip42. The narrow end of the metallic strips 46 and 44 are then foldedtogether and the two strips are bent to form a cylindrical ring-shapeenclosure which fits over the cup 28 so that the inner surface of theconductive strip 40 is in heat transferring engagement with the outersurface of the cup 28. A wire 48 is placed behind the folded ends 44 and46 and the lower ends 50 of the wire 48 are bent upward whereby the wire48 holds the ends of the metallic strips 40 and 42 together.

The generation of heat in the heating element 34 is provided by Nichromeribbon heating element 60 which is wound around one or more strips ofinsulating material 62, which may be reconstituted mica or other similarmaterial. Electrical connection is made to the ends of the heating wire60 through the openings 52 and 54 formed in the surface of the metallicstrip 42, by means of the wires 56, respectively. The mica strips 62 onwhich the wire 60 is wound is best shown in FIG. 9. Surrounding theinsulating strips 62 are a number of strips of electrical insulatingmaterial which serve to electrically in sulate the heating wire 60 fromthe metallic conductive strips 40 and 42.

The thermostat 30 is connected in series with the heating wire 60 andwith a protective fuse 66, which are best shown in FIG. 7. Thethermostat 30 and the fuse 66 are secured to an insulating wafer 68. Theinsulating wafer 68 is secured to the removable base plate 70 by meansof the screws 72 which extend through the washer 75 into insulatingscrew posts 77 which project upwardly from the base plate 70. The baseplate 70 is secured to the lower section 14 by means of the screws 76which are screwed into the screw posts '78 that extend inwardly from theside wall 32. The thermostat 30 and the fuse 66 are secured to the wafer68 by three bolts 74 and their corresponding nuts 80 so that electricalcontact is made between one end of the thermostat 30 and one end of thefuse 66.

The thermostat 30 is constructed with a stationery contact 84 and aremovable contact 86 which is positioned on a heatresponsive movable arm88. The movable arm 88 is positioned so that the contacts 84 and 86 arenormally closed. When the heat in the lower section 14 becomesexcessive, for example this will occur when most of the water in the cup28 has been turned to steam, the movable arm 88 will be deflectedupwardly toward the bottom of the cup 28 thereby breaking the circuitbetween the connectors 84 and 86 in order to protect the steamer fromexcessive heat.

It is also very important to prevent the water in the cup 28 fromleaking into the interior of the lower section 14 where the heatingelement 34 and the thennostat 30 are located in order to prevent dangerof electric shock to the operator of the steamer. In addition, in orderto protect the operator from being burned, it is important to preventleakage of hot water between the upper and lower sections of thesteamer. The manner in which the sealing is accomplished in the steameris best shown in FIG. 2. The cup 28 which contains the water has a thinoutwardly extending rim 92. The rim 92 is used to support the cup 28 ina downwardly depending position such that the bottom of the cup issuspended over the thermostat 30 and the side wall of the cup is out ofengagement with the side wall 32 of the lower section 14. The rim 92rest on a metallic support ring 96 which is tightly wedged into acorresponding groove 97 in the side wall 32. The ring 96 has an upwardlyprojecting ridge 99. A second metallic ring 100 is located in a groove101 in the side wall 32 such that the lower surface of the ring is incontact with the ridge 99 of the ring 96.

The sealing ring 104 has a circular cross section constructed of aresilient material such as rubber or plastic and is placed into a groove97 between the ridge 99 and the side wall 32. A resilient sealing ring98, having a generally rectangular cross section, is in contact with theupper surface of the rim 92 and is positioned in a groove 103 formed inthe lower surface of the ring 100. A third resilient sealing ring 108,of a circular cross section is positioned in a groove 105 formed in thetop surface of the ring 100. The sealing ring 108 is in contact with thelower edge 107 of the upper section 12 when the upper section 12 and thelower section 14 are screwed together. The sealing ring 104 ispreferably more resilient than the sealing rings 98 and 108, since itmust yield somewhat to allow insertion of the metallic support ring 96.The resilient sealing rings are preferably made of a material which willnot deteriorate in the presence of heat. in addition, one or morecircular heat insulating rings (not shown), formed of a material such asasbestos, are preferably inserted between the lower surface of the rim92 and the upper surface of the support ring 96 in order to minimize theamount of heat which is transferred to the outer surface of the steamer.

When steam is generated in the steamer, it passes upwardly through thepassageways 110 that are formed in the downwardly depending pipes 112.The pipes 112 are integrally formed with the plate 114 which is securedacross the cylindrical side wall 115 of the upper section 12. Thedirection of the steam in the upper section 12 is shown by the arrows inFIG. 2. After the steam has passed through the channels 110, it flowsthrough the chamber 117 and then through a vent 118 which is formed inthe lower wall 120 of the steam outlet channel 116 adjacent of the rearwall 124. The steam, after passing through the outlet channel 116, thenpasses from the steamer through the apertures which are formed in thesurface 26 of the steam head 16. Each of the apertures 130 is coupled toan individual steam channel 132 formed in the metallic steam head 16.The steam in passing upwardly from the lower section 14 undergoes onesharp reversal of direction in passing from the chamber 117 into theoutput channel 116. In this manner, steam is allowed to pass through theapertures 130, but water will be prevented from passing through theapertures 130 when the steamer is positioned in a tilted manner.

The steam head 16 closes the open end of the outlet channel 116 and issecured into place by means of the screws 126 which are screwed into thethreaded screw post s 128 formed in the wall sections 120 and 122 of theoutlet channel 116. The steam head 16, as best shown in FIG. 4, isformed with two sides 133, a top 135 and a bottom 137. The exteriorhousing periphery of the steamer which surrounds the steam head 16 has aperiphery consisting of the sides 136, the top 138 and bottom 134 whichconforms to the corresponding portions of the steam head 16. Theremovable brush 20 has a ring 22 with sides 142, a top 23 and a base 25which conforms to the exterior housing periphery of the steam outletchannel H6 and which is in intimate engagement with this exteriorhousing periphery.

The brush 20 is constructed so that a pair of resilient tabs 149 areformed in each of the side walls 142. The tabs are integrally formedwith the side wall 142 so that one end of the tab is joined with theside wall 142 and the other end 150 of the tab 149 is substantiallycolinear with the inner edge of the side wall 142. The tab 149 isapproximately one-third as thick as the inner edge portion 140 so thatthe tab 149 is somewhat more resilient than the remainder of the brush.The tab 149 has an inwardly projecting locking block 152 formed thereon.The inner edge 153 preferably consists of a bevelled surface. Thebevelled edge 153 aids insertion and removal of the locking block in thecorresponding locking recess 154 which is formed in the sides 136 of theexterior housing periphery and which is best shown in FIG. 8.

The base 25 of the brush 20, as best shown in FIG. 2, is shaped toconform to the slope of the housing of the steamer between the tankportion and the outlet channel portion of the steamer. Since the outletchannel portion of the steamer is generally of a trapezoidal shape andthe tank portion of the steamer is of a cylindrical-shape, the inneredge 146 of the brush 20 will contact the outer surface of thecylindrical tank portion only at a tangent point 129. The edge 146 isnarrow in the vicinity of the tangent point and is wider at the surfaces148 which extend outwardly beyond the tangent point 129. The brush 20may be easily removed from the steamer by the application of pressure tothe surfaces 148 wherein the tabs 149 will flex somewhat and the lockingblocks 152 will be disengaged from their corresponding locking recesses154 whereby the brush may be removed from the steamer without the use ofany tools. In this manner, an easily removable and insertable brushwhich is relatively inexpensive to produce and which does not detractfrom the overall appearance of the steamer is provided.

While a specific embodiment of the present invention has been described,it is intended that the described embodiment be illustrative only of thepatentable novelty herein set forth and that reference be made to theclaims to determine the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A material-steaming device comprising a housing, a water-containingtank and a steam outlet channel in said housing, heating means forheating the water in said tank for producing steam, head means having anapertured surface, said head means being secured in said housing incommunication with said outlet channel for providing a spray of steamthrough said apertured surface, a removable ring having a shape whichconforms to the shape of said head means, material-treating meanssecured to said ring, said ring comprising at least one tab, each tabhaving a protruding locking block thereon, said housing being providedwith a correspond ing number of locking recesses, each of which receivesone of said locking blocks when said ring is positioned on saidmaterial-steaming device, said ring constructed such that pressureapplied thereto results in the disengagement of the locking blocks andlocking recesses associated therewith so that said ring may be removedfrom said material-steaming device.

2. A material steaming device as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidmaterial-treating means comprises a plurality of bristle brushes whichextend outwardly from said ring past said apertured surface of said headmeans.

3. A material-steaming device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said ringhas a relatively long wall and two relatively short side walls attachedto said long wall and one tab and one corresponding locking recess isadjacent to and associated with each of said relatively short side wallswhen said ring is secured on said material-steaming device.

4. A material-steaming device as set forth in claim 3 wherein saidmaterial-treating means comprises a plurality of bristle brushes whichextend outwardly from said ring past said apertured surface of said headmeans.

5. A material-steaming device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said tabsare resilient and said ring is constructed such that pressure appliedthereto results in the flexing of at least one resilient tab whichresults in the disengagement of the corresponding locking block andlocking recess associated therewith.

6. A material-steaming device as set forth in claim 5 wherein saidmaterial-treating means comprises a plurality of bristle brushes whichextend outwardly from said ring past said apertured surface of said headmeans.

7. A materialsteaming device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tabsare resilient and said ring is constructed such that pressure appliedthereto results in t e flexing of at least one resilient tab whichresults in the disengagement of the corresponding locking block andlocking recess associated therewith.

8. A material-steaming device as set forth in claim 7 wherein saidmateriabtreating means comprises a plurality of bristle brushes whichextend outwardly from said ring past said apertured surface of said headmeans.

9. In a hand-held steaming device for removing wrinkles from fabricscomprising a plastic housing having a generally cylindrically shapedlower housing section constructed for storage of water therein andcontaining an electrical heating element for heating said water tocreate steam, an upper plastic housing section containing a steamchannel having an opening at an end thereof and an integrally formedhandle for the user, a metallic head means having an apertured face forclosing said open end of said steam channel except for said apertureswhich direct steam toward the fabric being treated, said lower and upperhousing sections being screwed together during operation; theimprovement comprising a removable brush assembly comprising a brush anda brush-holding member having two substantially parallel sides, each ofsaid sides having a locking block formed thereon which projects inwardlytoward said upper housing section when said brush assembly is on saidsteaming device and a pair of outwardly facing locking recesses formedin the exterior housing surface of said upper housing section adjacentsaid head means for securing said brush assembly onto said upper housingsection by receipt of each one of said locking blocks into one of saidlocking recesses such that said brush extends outwardly beyond said headmeans when said brush assembly is secured to said steaming device andsuch that said brush assembly is removable from said steaming device bypressure applied to the brush holding member by the user of saidsteaming device.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said brush-holding member isformed of plastic and is positioned on said upper housing sectionadjacent said head means, said bristles are positioned in an elongatedrow which extends outwardly beyond said apertured face of said headmeans and said upper housing section comprises a two exterior housingsides with one of said locking recesses being formed into each of saidsides.

1. A material-steaming device comprising a housing, a watercontaining tank and a steam outlet channel in said housing, heating means for heating the water in said tank for producing steam, head means having an apertured surface, saiD head means being secured in said housing in communication with said outlet channel for providing a spray of steam through said apertured surface, a removable ring having a shape which conforms to the shape of said head means, material-treating means secured to said ring, said ring comprising at least one tab, each tab having a protruding locking block thereon, said housing being provided with a corresponding number of locking recesses, each of which receives one of said locking blocks when said ring is positioned on said material-steaming device, said ring constructed such that pressure applied thereto results in the disengagement of the locking blocks and locking recesses associated therewith so that said ring may be removed from said material-steaming device.
 2. A material steaming device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said material-treating means comprises a plurality of bristle brushes which extend outwardly from said ring past said apertured surface of said head means.
 3. A material-steaming device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said ring has a relatively long wall and two relatively short side walls attached to said long wall and one tab and one corresponding locking recess is adjacent to and associated with each of said relatively short side walls when said ring is secured on said material-steaming device.
 4. A material-steaming device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said material-treating means comprises a plurality of bristle brushes which extend outwardly from said ring past said apertured surface of said head means.
 5. A material-steaming device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said tabs are resilient and said ring is constructed such that pressure applied thereto results in the flexing of at least one resilient tab which results in the disengagement of the corresponding locking block and locking recess associated therewith.
 6. A material-steaming device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said material-treating means comprises a plurality of bristle brushes which extend outwardly from said ring past said apertured surface of said head means.
 7. A material-steaming device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tabs are resilient and said ring is constructed such that pressure applied thereto results in the flexing of at least one resilient tab which results in the disengagement of the corresponding locking block and locking recess associated therewith.
 8. A material-steaming device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said material-treating means comprises a plurality of bristle brushes which extend outwardly from said ring past said apertured surface of said head means.
 9. In a hand-held steaming device for removing wrinkles from fabrics comprising a plastic housing having a generally cylindrically shaped lower housing section constructed for storage of water therein and containing an electrical heating element for heating said water to create steam, an upper plastic housing section containing a steam channel having an opening at an end thereof and an integrally formed handle for the user, a metallic head means having an apertured face for closing said open end of said steam channel except for said apertures which direct steam toward the fabric being treated, said lower and upper housing sections being screwed together during operation; the improvement comprising a removable brush assembly comprising a brush and a brush-holding member having two substantially parallel sides, each of said sides having a locking block formed thereon which projects inwardly toward said upper housing section when said brush assembly is on said steaming device and a pair of outwardly facing locking recesses formed in the exterior housing surface of said upper housing section adjacent said head means for securing said brush assembly onto said upper housing section by receipt of each one of said locking blocks into one of said locking recesses such that said brush extends outwardly beyond said head means when said brush assembly is secured to said steaming device and such that said brush assEmbly is removable from said steaming device by pressure applied to the brush-holding member by the user of said steaming device.
 10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said brush-holding member is formed of plastic and is positioned on said upper housing section adjacent said head means, said bristles are positioned in an elongated row which extends outwardly beyond said apertured face of said head means and said upper housing section comprises a two exterior housing sides with one of said locking recesses being formed into each of said sides. 